Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-02-05

SApJeck o. 1tEous.1on ~ the ENeebTtexImn
Church LAST Night.
The following i an abstract 81 lie sub
iect discussed 1t the prayer-meeting ii
the Presby Church last night, III
which the pastor said
The promises increase our faith, de-
velop our hope, strengthen Us for duty,
and afford consolation in sorrow. When
we are told that the eve Of the Lord il
upon them that fear Hin, that His ears
are open unto their cry, and that the
steps of a good man are ordered BY the
Lord, our faith in Gods care is wonder
fully strengthened. Mcditating upon the
promises Of God, we feel that Gods care
is continually over US. This is 4 great
gain to the christian amid the peeplexities
and anxieties Of life
And as the blessings refer 10 future
good as well as present benefit, the
hope Of the christian heart is increased. -
he reads the passage: THE Lord will
give grace and glory no good thing will
be withheld from them that walk uD-
rightly" and others like IL, and hope is
brought into lively exercise. When lie
reads: The righteous shall flourish like
the palm tree; he shall grow like cedar
in Lebanon" he hopes to have pros
porous existence such as these impressions
indicate. lie feels that he will flourish
even in unfavorabie situations. The earn
est christian seems to hear the prophet,
when he says: ''say We to the righteous
that ii shall be well with him.
And SO in the duties of life, the chris
tian hears tho promise: Il will strengthen
thee; yea, will help thee; yea, will up.
hold thee with The right hand of my right
eousness
What difficulties we sometimes meet on
the path of duty. But when we hear the
cheering promises of Gods word, what
courage and strength we receive. The
christian ought to listeu for these. espe-
eially in times when difficulties arise, lie
ought to seek for them in the Bible, and
dwell upon them, for they will be an in
spiratiOn to him In every duty. We need
the help which these promises bring every
day of our lives. Hence, we ought to go
TO the duties of life With one or more of
these precious promises ringing in our
ears.
Then, these promises afford consolation
In times of affiiction. They lift up the
bowed head, they dry the weeping eyes,
they bind up the broken heart The man
who has these promises In his mind can
not be completely overwhelmed with sor-
row. Under the darkest cloud he will
see at least one ray of sunshine. In the
greatest afiliction he will see something
that softens his grief. God comes at such
times, and says When thou passest
through the waters, will be with thee;
and through the rivers they shall not over
flow thee; when thou walkest through the
fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither
shall the fame kindle upon thee" We
think much of the one who stands by us
in our sorrow and speaks encouraging
words to us, but what are his ministries
compared with the words Of God. How
these comfort Us How these cheer US in
our sorrow. There is nothing like Gods
word for seasons of trial. These promises
Of God himself are more to us at such
times. than the words Of our dearest
friends.
Now in order to receive the benefit of
these promises, we ought to strive to I'M
derstand them. We ought TO accept them
as intended for us, and we ought to live
upon them. BY study, by prayer, by liv-
ing as Christ teaches us TO live, these
promises will be sources of great blessing
to Us. Feeling our need of divine aid,
and coming to these promises in the pray
er spirit we will be ready for the duties
and sorrows Of life.